Hampton Journalism school director quits

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Posted on 07-18-2004

FosterGray82

Haven't been here in a minute, but I just wanted to post this article...don't know if there's any other HU journalism majors here... Hampton U.'s journalism chairman leaving after a year By MIKE GRUSS , The Virginian-Pilot © July 17, 2004 Last updated: 11:33 PM HAMPTON — After one tumultuous year on the job, the chairman of Hampton University’s journalism school is leaving his post. Christopher Campbell , a longtime academic and former newspaper reporter and television editor, said Friday he will not return to the Scripps Howard School of Journalism this fall and, instead, will lead the journalism department at Ithaca College in New York. Campbell said President William R. Harvey’s autocratic style and demand for unwavering loyalty often clashed with the journalism school’s mission. “My new job at Hampton University became too much to deal with,” Campbell said. “He’s got his own way of doing things. It’s all about loyalty. This is a very autocratic place.” Harvey was not available Friday, but Provost JoAnn Haysbert said that the program is in good shape and that the university community has worked hard to overcome any problems. When Campbell started at the historically black college in July 2003, he said he knew he was coming into “a difficult situation.” Just a year earlier, his predecessor, Charlotte Grimes, criticized Harvey for calling investigative journalism “muckraking,” a claim Harvey denied in the press. Grimes is now teaching political reporting at Syracuse University. Then, in October 200 3, administrators confiscated a copy of the student newspaper, The Script, after student editors refused to print a letter from the university’s acting president on the front page. The story received national publicity, enveloped the university in a public relations nightmare and resulted in the loss of a $55,000 grant from the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Judith G. Clabes , president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation, which donated more than $10 million to Hampton’s journalism school, said the controversy made Campbell’s first year on the job a difficult one. “I wish he’d stay longer,” Clabes said. “We’re sorry he’s leaving.” But Campbell pointed to several other events following the confiscation, which convinced him to look for a new job. They included: - The appointment of two advisers to the student newspaper, neither of whom had professional newspaper experience. Campbell favored professors and community members with more significant print journalism experience. He claimed the new university-chosen advisers were there “to keep students in line.” Haysbert noted that one of the professors works in the journalism department. - The departure of assistant professor Sean Lyons, who said he was criticized for speaking to the media in favor of The Script’s student editors and who Campbell called one of the department’s best professors. Haysbert said the university follows a policy where professional reporters must first contact university relations. Lyons’ departure “hammered home to me that it’s going to be difficult to build a faculty at this place,” Campbell said. But Haysbert said she believes the school will have little problem attracting national-caliber candidates. “Hampton has been around for a very long time and has a very fine reputation,” she said. She pointed to the addition of visiting professors Leonard Pitts, Jr., a nationally syndicated columnist, and former New York Times reporter Earl Caldwell. - The reassignment of Rosalynne Whitaker-Heck from assistant director to faculty member, a move Campbell opposed. Hampton administrators said instead of focusing on administrative duties, Whitaker-Heck will concentrate on completing her Ph.D. Campbell also echoed Grimes’ complaint and said investigative journalism is only encouraged at the school “as long as you’re not investigating Hampton University.” “I would’ve liked to have seen the foundation put more pressure on the university to promote democratic models,” he added. “I see The Script controversy as a symptom of bigger problems that haven’t gone away.” Hampton journalism students said they are losing a professor with lofty goals for the department. “This is the latest in the line of people who care about us and are gone,” said Talia Buford, a 20-year-old rising senior who is the editor of The Script. “I don’t think they were allowed to grow how they wanted to.” But Clabes said she does not think Campbell’s departure will set the department back. Next year, a record number of students have enrolled in the journalism program. “Everybody else is still in place. It’s a capable faculty,” she said. Reach Mike Gruss at 222-5133 or mike.gruss@pilotonline.com

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replied on 07-18-2004 06:38PM

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Someone sent me this same article in my email today. Ok, I'm about to be a HU freshman who will major in print journalism. Is this really the school I need to be in? I mean, the things I read really disappointed me about this school, but everyone I talk to says it's good. Someone has to be lying. If the j-school is run like this article says, I don't think I want to be there. I don't believe in censorship. I think the news should be told regardless of how the school's administrators think, especially when they have no background in journalism. I wish someone would just be real and speak up for what's right

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FosterGray82 replied on 07-19-2004 03:16AM

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Eba wrote:
Someone sent me this same article in my email today. Ok, I'm about to be a HU freshman who will major in print journalism. Is this really the school I need to be in? I mean, the things I read really disappointed me about this school, but everyone I talk to says it's good. Someone has to be lying. If the j-school is run like this article says, I don't think I want to be there. I don't believe in censorship. I think the news should be told regardless of how the school's administrators think, especially when they have no background in journalism. I wish someone would just be real and speak up for what's right

Eba...check your PM. Smile

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replied on 07-22-2004 05:58PM

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	I know judy clabes personally, thats one of the reasons i decided to come to Hampton. I don't understand why she and the Scripps Howard Foundation would support the provost and look over the gross censorship of the hampton script and other news outlets at the school. The attitude of the provost JoAnn is ****, and out of step with the purpose of journalism.
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